Ex-teammate: Mariners infielder Ryan habitually tardy

Former St. Louis Cardinals teammate Ryan Franklin told KFNS AM that Ryan, who will compete for the starting second baseman role in spring training, had trouble being in the right place at the right time.

“If you’re tardy once, don’t be tardy again,” Franklin said. “But it just kept happening. Veteran guys, we see a two-or-three-year guy do that, that doesn’t sit well, it just doesn’t. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be done.”

The closer said the Cardinals liked Ryan just fine, but that he wouldn’t necessarily be missed in St. Louis.

“Yeah, sure. All right. I’ll miss giving him a hard time.”

Ryan, 28, was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals for pitching prospect Maikel Cleto in December. He signed a two-year, $2.75 million contract with the Mariners.